The trial has begun in Austria of a Chechen man accused of fighting with ISIL.
Identified only as Magomed Z., it is claimed he trained with Islamic State militants in Syria between July and December 2013, fought with the group, adopted its self-proclaimed nationality and sent it money. He has pleaded not guilty.
At the start of the hearing, his lawyer Wolfgang Blaschitz said:“I will do my best to ensure everything is done without emotions involved, without any demonisation of anyone or anything and without any kind of undue exaggeration.”
Responding to images showing the defendant holding weapons, Blaschitz said he was simply out to impress women.
The lawyer also said Islamic State had formed only in early 2014, so his client could not have fought with them in 2013.
“Of course the political environment does not lend itself to promoting the assumption of innocence,” Blaschitz told reporters.
Islamic State has existed in its current form since June 2014, while its precursor o
